When SeaWorld Orlando revealed its ride-vehicle design for the upcoming Antarctica -- Empire of the Penguin attraction yesterday, I wasn't quite sure I saw the inspiration, said to be the birds themselves.

The cars' color scheme is solidly in the blue tones that SeaWorld uses a lot. The vehicle has two tiered rows of benches, seating a total of eight guests, set on a round platform.

Brian Morrow, creative director, explains. Think of it being a penguin that's swimming underwater, not standing rigidly on ice. The lines of the vehicle do sort of flow forward, and the yellow and orange coloring of penguins plays a supporting role.

“We didn’t want to be too literal with it," Morrow says. "We studied a couple of vehicle designs that were more penguin-esque, and it got really kiddie-ride looking, it got really juvenile."

"It really didn’t do Antarctica justice," Morrow says. "Antarctica is very sleek, and it’s clean and strong and powerful. That’s what we wanted our vehicle to be.”

Then there's the matter of the real penguins that will be part of the attraction, which is on schedule to open next spring. Empire of the Penguin will be the largest penguin habitat ever constructed, featuring hundreds of the birds, Morrow said. Folks will exit the icy attraction "side by side" with penguins, Morrow told media members at the unveiling during the IAAPA convention at the Orange County Convention Center.

Don't translate "side by side" to mean "flipper in hand," of course.

"There are barriers. At SeaWorld we’re kind of experts at this thing," Morrow says. "Penguins are a great species to interact with because they don’t jump up very fast or very far." Morrow said he refers to these small barriers as "curbs."

Participation by the penguins -- which will include kings, gentoos, Adelies and rockhoppers -- will be optional in the wide-open spaces of its new home, Morrow says. “We always give the animals the choice of how far they would like to come forward and interact."